Chapter 42
Translator - Zofu
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I ordered a background check on Kim Chang-soo, but surprisingly, no real weaknesses turned up.
I had my suspicions, but no proof. A single piece of information about him receiving backing from Japan wasn't enough to pressure him.
'That's what happens when someone's as meticulous about managing their image as he is.'
But everyone has a weakness. Finding it is what I do.
This time, I needed a different approach.
If political or business vulnerabilities weren't showing, I'd just have to look elsewhere.
I looked at another tablet screen.
It was packed with information on Kim Chang-soo's family.
'Seong Seo-hyeon, Kim Tae-woo, Kim Yuri, and Kim Tae-woo's wife, Han Seo-young.'
I scrolled through their profiles one by one. An idea came to me.
'And on top of that, Kim Chang-soo's family relationships are worse than I expected.'
If I played this right, I could paint a very interesting picture.
First, Kim Chang-soo's wife, Seong Seo-hyeon. According to the file, she'd married him in a political arrangement when she was barely twenty. And her relationship with him had been strained for years.
She'd lived a repressed life.
And she was still beautiful. I already knew exactly how to approach a woman like her.
I had all the intel I needed. Her tastes, her daily routine, her social circles. While her husband was obsessed with power, Seong Seo-hyeon would be drowning in loneliness. It wouldn't be hard to shake her.
'I'll dig into Kim Chang-soo's weaknesses through Seong Seo-hyeon.'
The plan was simple. Approach her, shake her emotionally, and draw out her husband's corruption and the family's internal conflicts. Stoke the anger and loneliness buried deep inside her, and everything about Kim Chang-soo would fall into my hands.
Now the important part was how to create that point of contact.
The intel that she frequently attended exhibitions and social gatherings came easily. Social clubs seemed too crowded, too difficult to approach naturally. I needed something more organic.
I decided to start by attending an exhibition she often visited.
What I needed to do on our first meeting was simple. Approach just enough to pique her interest, slowly draw her into my pace. Moving too fast would only raise her guard.
**
The gallery was calm and quiet. Visitors were lost in contemplation as they took in the artwork.
I already had intel that she'd be here today. I quietly walked through the space, looking for Seong Seo-hyeon.
It didn't take long to find her.
She stood alone, gazing at a piece from a distance. A black dress accentuated her elegance.
Despite her age, her striking appearance—and notably large chest—immediately caught the eye.
She looked nothing like a woman with two grown children.
I slowly approached and stood beside her. Pretending to appreciate the artwork, I naturally closed the distance between us.
"This piece is truly impressive. The way the bold yet calm colors create contrast is quite appealing."
Seong Seo-hyeon turned her head slightly to look at me. She seemed a bit startled at first, but quickly smiled and replied.
"Yes. The way this artist uses color is particularly unique. It appears calm, yet there's a fiery intensity hidden within."
I nodded at her words. Her interpretation of the piece was deeper than I'd anticipated. Thanks to that, the conversation flowed more naturally.
'All that obsessive studying over the past few days is paying off.'
I continued the conversation while looking at the piece.
"I see. At first I was only struck by the colors, but now that you mention it, there seems to be much more hidden beneath the surface."
"That's the thing about art. What you see at first and what you see later are completely different. People are the same way."
Seong Seo-hyeon continued calmly. I chewed on her words and smiled quietly.
"Exactly. Even if it starts as a simple emotion, over time you feel its depth."
She nodded lightly at my words and seemed to focus on the piece again.
I glanced at Seong Seo-hyeon from the corner of my eye. Her expression and gestures seemed to carry a hint of fatigue and loneliness.
She looked like someone who'd been submerged in her own solitary thoughts for a long time.
"Do you come to exhibitions often?"
At my question, Seong Seo-hyeon answered with a slight smile.
"Occasionally. I come when I need time alone. It gives me a peace I can't easily find in everyday life."
"That's why I come often too. Taking my time to appreciate the pieces helps clear my head."
We looked at each other for a moment. In that brief silence, I felt the barrier between us lower just a fraction.
To break down the walls of her lingering wariness, I kept the conversation going.
We talked about the artwork for over an hour.
And I grew close to her faster than I'd expected.
Perhaps because she was so starved for company, Seong Seo-hyeon welcomed all my questions, even telling me to ask more.
I saw my opening.
"Then, after we finish here, would you like to grab a coffee?"
I asked casually. She seemed to think it over for a moment, then nodded.
"I'd like that. I was thinking it would be a shame to just go straight home."
After we moved to a café, the conversation grew lighter. Seong Seo-hyeon began opening up about exhibitions she enjoyed and her thoughts on art.
I listened attentively, offering brief affirmations at the right moments.
"Is there a piece from a recent exhibition that stands out to you?"
Seong Seo-hyeon thought for a moment, then answered with a smile.
"There was an artist at a recent exhibition who made some unique attempts. At first I didn't understand the meaning, but the more I looked, the more strangely drawn I felt."
"Those are the pieces that stir your emotions. They're even more interesting because everyone interprets them differently."
I just tossed out some vague comment.
"Exactly. I think that's the appeal of art. Everyone feels something different even when looking at the same piece."
I looked at her and nodded slightly.
She took another sip of coffee and fell into thought. A brief silence passed.
I broke the silence first.
"Oh, look at the time. I should get going.
Seong Seo-hyeon also rose from her seat.
"Oh my, I had no idea it had gotten so late. I'm sorry. Did this old lady hold you up too long?"
"Not at all. You could still pass for your twenties."
"Even if it's just flattery, thank you. Well then, if fate allows, let's meet again."
"Yes. I enjoyed today as well. I hope we can meet again."
I stifled a smile, already planning our second meeting. Rushing things would only make her wary, so backing off now was the more effective move.
"Then, until next time."
Seong Seo-hyeon smiled and waved.
"Yes. See you again."
Seong Seo-hyeon smiled and waved, and I left with a light smile.
The first meeting went as smoothly as expected. I quickened my pace, contemplating how to get closer now that she'd let her guard down.
I continued to meet Seong Seo-hyeon, orchestrating chance encounters. And we grew close enough to address each other by name.
"Taeyang, what do you think of this piece?"
Seong Seo-hyeon stood before a piece and asked me.
'That piece is by Kim Young-baek...'
A man's voice came through the small earpiece in my ear.
Meeting her was fine, but whenever she kept asking questions,
I felt the limits of my own knowledge. So I'd hired an expert who knew art well.
'That's why you've got to use your head.'
I repeated exactly what the expert fed me.
"This is a piece by Kim Young-baek."
I continued naturally.
"Though it appears to be a simple harmony of colors, you can feel a powerful emotional conflict within. The contrast between red and blue particularly seems to symbolize inner turmoil."
Seong Seo-hyeon narrowed her eyes and looked at the piece again.
"You're right. At first I was drawn in by the bold colors, but there seems to be deeper meaning inside."
Watching her reaction, I added more.
"The artist uses color to express complex human emotions. I had to look for quite a while before I could see the truth behind it."
She glanced at me and smiled.
"Taeyang, you have such a deep interpretation of art. Seeing it with you gives me a fresh perspective."
"That's because I'm with you, Seo-hyeon."
I smiled slightly.
"When you share how you see art and how you connect with people, it all becomes more meaningful."
Seong Seo-hyeon listened quietly and turned her eyes back to the piece. I could see a faint blush on her face.
I moved closer to her side—close enough that our skin almost touched. Then I reached out and took her hand.
"Oh..."
Seong Seo-hyeon looked at me with surprise for a moment. But soon she turned her head away again.
The first button had been secured. I continued to target her loneliness.